Automatic locking device.



1. B. COLVIN, 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 4. l9l5.

1 ,1 87,266. Patented J1me 13; 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. B. COLVIN.

AUTOMAT|C LOCKING DEIVICE. APPLICATION FILED NQV. 4, 1915.,

1,187,266. I Patented June 13, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5M, w; mgw

JOHN B. COLVIN, OF DUNDEE, MISSISSIPPI.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING DEVICE.

I Application filed November 4, 1915. Serial No. 59,651.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. QOLVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dundee, in the county of Tunica and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Locking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved automatic locking device especially adapted for automatically looking a derail switch when the latter is thrown over on top of a track rail so that the derail switch cannot be removed without the use of a key to unlock the same, the object of the invention being to provide an improved locking device of thischaracter which is strong and durable, is simple in construction, may be readily installed, and which is automatic in operation.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan of a derail switch provided with an automatic locking device constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention and showing the derail switch locked on top of one of the track rails. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale of the looking device and showing the switch lever in raised, unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the stand, and switch lever, with the switch lever in locked position, the casin and the locking mechanism being remove Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

For the purpose of this specification, a

track rail is indicated in Fig. 1 at l and a derail switch, of usual construction, is indicated at 2, and which is pivotally mounted at one side at 3 and adapted to be thrown over and caused to lie on the top of the track rail. This derail switch is provided with an operating and locking lever .4.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a stand 5 which is adapted to be secured on a tie or ties at a suitable point near the rail 1 and to one side of the same, the said stand comprising a base 6, and a pair of standards or vertical arms 7, 8, between which a verticalslot 9 is formed and which is arranged for the reception of the lever 4 when the derail switch is thrown over the top of the track rail. The stand-' ard or arm 8 is provided with a vertical slot 10 at right angles to the slot 9.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916-.

A shackle 11 is pivotally mounted as at 12 in the slot 10 and has a shoulder 13 which is adapted to catch over the lever 4 when the latter is turned down into the slot 9, the said shackle having its lower end pro vided with a downwardly and inwardlycurved cam arm 14 which is engaged by the lower side of the lever so that the latter when it moves downwardly in the slot, automatically turns the shackle on its pivot and causes the shoulder 13 of the shackle to eX- of the lock case and is also engaged on the upper side, by a stop 20. The bolt is provided on its upper side at its inner end with a shoulder 21. A detent 22 is also slidably mounted on the guide 19 in the lock case and has a notch 23 in its upper side within its inner end and a shoulder 24 which forms the rear side of said notch. A lug 25 extends downwardly from the detent. A spring 26 is attached to the said lug and also to the inner end or wall of the lock case, said spring serving to normally move the detent toward the shackle and hence cause the bolt to move in the same direction and thus hold the shackle normally in disengaged position. The shackle is also held normally in disengaged position by a spring 27.

A catch 28 is arrangedin the lockcase, above the detent, and is pivotally mounted as at 29. Said catch has a camming key way 30 for engagement and operation by a suitable key 31 inserted into the lock case by a key hole 32. Near the, inner end of the catch, on its underside, is shoulder 33 for engagement behind the shoulder 21'of' the bolt when the latter is moved by the turning of the shackle into locking position, and the catch also has a shoulder 34 on its under side to drop into the notch 23 and behind the shoulder 24 of the detent in locked position. A spring 35 in the lock case bears on the upper side of the catch and normally depressesthe latter. I

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when the derail switch is .5; the action of the cam 14 and as the bolt 17 and detent 22 move outwardly, said bolt and detent are respectively engaged and held in locked position by the shoulders 33, 34 of the catch, the latter being moved downwardly by the spring Before the derail switch can be released and thrown off the rail by the lever 4, the catch 28 must be raised by the employment of a key and caused to release the detent and the bolt, whereupon the springs 26, 27 return the detent, bolt and shackle to normal disengaged position. When the shackle is in lever releasing position as shown in Fig. 2, the detent by the engagement of its shoulder 24 under the shoulder 34: of the catch, holds the latter in disengaged position, against the tension of the spring 35.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a switch operating lever,astand having a slot to receive the lever when the latter is moved to one position, a shackle pivotally mounted on said stand and having a shoulder to engage the lever and also having a cam for engagement by the lever to cause the shackle to engage and hold the lever, a bolt connected to and movable with the shackle, and a key operated catch to engage and secure the bolt when the shackle is in lever-locking position.

2. A stand having a slot to receive a switch operating lever, a shackle pivotally mounted on the stand at one side of said slot and having a lever-holding element and also having a cam for operation by the lever to move the shackle to engaged position with the lever, a bolt connected to the shackle, a detent movable with the bolt, and a key actuated catch to engage and secure the bolt and detent and cause said boltto hold said shackle in engaged position.

3. A stand having a slot to receive a switch operated lever, a shackle pivotally mounted on the stand at one side of said slot and having a lever-holding element and also having a cam for operation by the lever to move the shackle to engaged position with the lever, a bolt connected to the shackle, a detent movable with the bolt, a key actuated catch to engage and secure the bolt and de- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patemtn, Washington, D. G." 

